RECRUITING POWER OF SLEEP. 



Some, from this cause, require eight or ten hours, while 

 others are perfectly contented with half that quantity. 

 The slight quantity of sleep that sometimes has been 

 found to be sufficient, is almost incredible. The cele- 

 brated General Pichegru who commanded the armies 

 of France during her revolution, declared to his physi- 

 cian, that in the course of hi's active campaigns, he had 

 not for a whole year more than one hour's sleep, upon 

 an average, in twenty four. 



Emily. It is hardly possible to conceive how one hour 

 can afford the same refreshment which others find it dif- 

 ficult to obtain in six times that space. 



Dr. B. The refreshment produced by sleep does not 

 seem to be in exact proportion to its duration. The first 

 portion of sleep is undoubtedly most refreshing; it be- 

 comes less so the longer it is continued, and if carried too 

 far is followed by effects of quite a contrary nature. 



Emily. The old proverb then, " one hour's sleep be- 

 fore mid-night is worth two after," is founded in truth. 



Dr. B. Sleep is not a state of mere inaction, but 

 one in which exhausted energies are recruited, and or- 

 ganic losses repaired. " The powers of the sensorium, 

 seem to be wound up as it were, in the first periods of 

 sleep 5 and a great part of the refreshment in later hours, 

 seems more imputable to the simple repose of the or- 

 gans, than to the recruiting powers peculiar to sleep." 

 Some people require after dinner, a nap oi fifteen or 

 twenty minutes, after which they can proceed to their 

 business with fresh alacrity ; whereas, a deprivation of 

 their accustomed nap renders them drowsy and spiritless 

 for the rest of the day. It is related of the European 

 missionaries in China, that being obliged by their duties 

 to take as little time as possible for that sleep in the mid- 

 dle of the day which is rendered necessary by the nature 

 of the climate, they laved down with a brass ball in their 

 hand, and under it a brass basin. The moment they 

 dropped entirely asleep, the ball fell from thir hand into 

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